RF generator with voltage regulator
A radio frequency (RF) generator includes a first half bridge including first and second power transistors; a second half bridge including first and second power transistors; an output node coupling the first and second half bridges and RF signals to a load; positive and negative rails coupled to an AC power source via a rectifier; a first blocking capacitor provided between the positive rail and the load; a second blocking capacitor provided between the negative rail and the load; and a voltage regulator configured to output a given voltage to the first and second bridges, wherein the first and second blocking capacitors are configured to isolate the load from the AC power source.
Latest IXYS Corporation Patents:
The present applications claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/575,435, filed on May 28, 2004, which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an radio frequency (RF) generator with a voltage regulator.
A power amplifier or generator is a circuit for converting DC-input power into a significant amount of RF/microwave output power. There is a great variety of different power amplifiers (PAs). A transmitter contains one or more PAs, as well as ancillary circuits such as signal generators, frequency converters, modulators, signal processors, linearizers, and power supplies. As used herein, the terms “power generator,” “RF generator,” and “power amplifier” are used interchangeably.
Frequencies from very low frequency (VLF) through millimeter wave (MMW) are used for communication, navigation, and broadcasting. Output powers vary from 10 mW in short-range unlicensed wireless systems to 1 MW in long-range broadcast transmitters. PAs and transmitters are also used in systems such as radar, RF heating, plasma generation, laser drivers, magnetic-resonance imaging, and miniature DC/DC converters.
RF power amplifiers are commonly designated into various different classes, i.e., classes A–F. Classes of operation differ in the method of operation, efficiency, and power-output capability. The power-output capability (or transistor utilization factor) is defined as output power per transistor normalized for peak drain voltage and current of 1 V and 1 A, respectively.
Generally, RF power amplifiers utilize a wide variety of active devices, including bipolar-junction transistors (BJTs), MOSFETs, JFETs (SITs), GaAs MESFETs, HEMTs, pHEMTs, and vacuum tubes. The power-output capabilities range from tens of kilowatts for vacuum tubes to hundreds of watts for Si MOSFETs at HF and VHF to hundreds of milliwatts for InP HEMTs at MMW frequencies. Depending upon frequency and power, devices are available in packaged, chip, and MMIC form. RF-power transistors generally are n-p-n or n-channel types because the greater mobility of electrons (versus holes) results in better operation at higher frequencies.
While the voltages and currents differ considerably, the basic principles for power amplification are common to all devices. In class-A amplification, the transistor is in the active region at all times and acts as a current source controlled by the gate drive and bias. The drain-voltage and drain-current waveforms are sinusoids, as shown in
Generally, class-D devices suffer from losses due to saturation, switching speed, and drain capacitance. Finite switching speed causes the transistors to be in their active regions while conducting current. Drain capacitances are charged and discharged generally once per RF cycle, resulting in power loss that is proportional and increases directly with frequency. Class-D devices with power outputs of 100 W to 1 kW are readily implemented at HF.
Recently, high voltage MOSFETs, e.g., with 500 V or 1000V MOSFETs, have been used in class “C” or “E” operation. However, the class C and E devices are narrow band approaches because the square wave drive pulses require a filter to remove unwanted spectral content. Efficiency is high but power control is difficult. Power control is usually a variable DC power supply which results in slow control of the output power and difficulty in controlling power at low levels. It is possible to drive these classes with a sine wave; however, the turn-on threshold varies with the MOSFET die temperature which will change the conduction angle (pulse width) of the MOSFET, which can be problematic.
In addition, most RF generators use isolated, variable voltage DC power supplies to power the RF power section. The variable DC supply is very large and slow in response if used in high frequency switch mode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an RF generator that has a voltage regular, e.g., a step-up regulator (or boost regulator) or a step-down regulator (or buck regulator). The present RF generator uses a direct off-line RF power section that does not require the use of a variable power supply. Raising or lowering the voltage to a constant level using a boost/buck regulator provides a means of surviving a brownout without loss of output from the RF generator.
The present RF generator also includes MOSFETS in a full bridge configuration, which are operated using phase shift techniques. The MOSFETs receive the DC power from the buck/boost regulator and are configured to handle 300 volts or more, or 500 volts or more, or 600 volts or more, or 1000 volts or more according to applications. The RF generator is configured to operate in a range of 5 MHz to 50 MHz. In the present embodiment, the RF generator is configured to operate at an Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency, e.g., 13.56 MHz or 27.12 MHz. In one implementation, the RF generator is a class D device and is configured to operate directly off line.
Generators with phase shift control have been used in recent years at frequencies below 500 KHz. These power supply designs are at much lower frequencies than the present invention, which is in radio frequencies. Generally, it is difficult to increase the operating frequency of bridges. Gate drive becomes very difficult for larger MOSFETs as the operating frequency is raised. The drive current can exceed 10 Ampere peaks for turn-on and turn-off. Unwanted resonances can occur due to the large gate capacitance and very small stray inductances. These unwanted resonances can result in uncontrolled turn-on or off of the MOSFETs and result in failure of devices. At lower frequencies, hard switching at high voltages is not a limiting factor. At high frequency, e.g., 13.56 MHz, hard switching at high voltage is a serious concern as power dissipation becomes excessive. Zero voltage switching becomes a preferred design. This operation is difficult to maintain over the full operating range of a power stage when phase is shifted.
The present embodiments use one or more commutation inductors to store sufficient energy to provide the energy needed to charge the output capacitance of the MOSFETs and provide RF generators with phase shift control. There are various advantages associated such RF generators: (1) may be operated in a broader frequency range, (2) may operate with fixed DC voltages that are not highly filtered, (3) eliminates the need for a variable DC power supply, and (4) may be operated at very low power to full power.
In one embodiment, a radio frequency (RF) generator comprises a first half bridge including first and second power transistors; a second half bridge including first and second power transistors; an output node coupling the first and second half bridges and RF signals to a load; positive and negative rails coupled to an AC power source via a rectifier; a first blocking capacitor provided between the positive rail and the load; and a second blocking capacitor provided between the negative rail and the load. The first and second blocking capacitors are configured to isolate the load from the AC power source.
In one embodiment, a radio frequency (RF) generator includes a first half bridge including first and second power transistors; a second half bridge including first and second power transistors; an output node coupling the first and second half bridges and RF signals to a load; positive and negative rails coupled to an AC power source via a rectifier; a first blocking capacitor provided between the positive rail and the load; a second blocking capacitor provided between the negative rail and the load; and an offline voltage regulator configured to output a given voltage to the first and second bridges, wherein the first and second blocking capacitors are configured to isolate the load from the AC power source, so that the first and second half bridges does not require a variable, isolated DC power supply.
The voltage regulator is a step-up or step-down regulator. The voltage regulator is a buck, boost or buck-boost regulator. The voltage regulator is provided between the AC power source and the first and second half bridges. The voltage regulator receives power from the AC power source. The voltage regulator receives the power directly from the AC power source in one implementation.
The RF generator also includes a plurality of gate drivers to drive the first and second half bridges; a controller to control the gate drivers; and a sensor provided between the first and second bridges and the load, the sensor being configured to determined the voltage level of signals output by the first and second half bridges and send a feedback signal to the controller.
In yet another embodiment, a radio frequency (RF) generator includes a first half bridge including first and second power transistors; a second half bridge including first and second power transistors; an output node coupling the first and second half bridges and RF signals to a load; positive and negative rails coupled to an AC power source via a rectifier; a first blocking capacitor provided between the positive rail and the load; a second blocking capacitor provided between the negative rail and the load; and an offline voltage regulator configured to output a fixed voltage to the first and second half bridges, wherein the first and second blocking capacitors are configured to isolate the load from the AC power source, so that the first and second half bridges do not require a variable, isolated DC power supply, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to raise or lower voltage output to the first and second half bridges during a brownout condition.
The present invention relates to an RF generator that has a full bridge configuration and an offline buck/boost regulator. The offline buck/boost regulator provides a constant voltage in a small form factor with a relatively few parts. It has low stored energy, wide AC input range, and can meet brownout requirements easily. The full bridge configuration comprises high voltage MOSFETs that are operated using phase shift techniques, as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/140,404, entitled, “RF Generator With Reduced Size and Weight,” filed on May 27, 2005, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/140,609, entitled, “RF Generator With Commutation Inductor,” filed on May 27, 2005, which are both assigned to the assignee of the present application, and which are both incorporated by reference.
The present embodiment relates to an RF generator operating at an ISM frequency, e.g., 13.56 MHz. The RF generator uses a high voltage phase shift controlled full bridge. A full bridge design offers several advantages which are helpful in RF operation. These include a higher utilization of the MOSFET ratings. In a bridge design, the voltage is limited to the supply rail (e.g., positive rail), whereas it is not the case in a class C or E, and thus must be designed with very large margins in case of reflected power. Another advantage is the drive pulse width is fixed. Phase shift control allows the output power to be controlled by the phase displacement between two half bridges. The two outputs are summed to produce a single output which can be varied from zero to full output power by controlling the phase difference between the two half bridges. This allows power control with fixed supply voltage rails which because of the high operation frequency can be operated directly off line by using blocking capacitors.
One advantage of using a phase shift design is the ability to vary frequency. The high Q circuits used with classes C and E preclude varying frequency by any significant amount. The bridge circuit has a symmetry which results in an ability to adjust and thus reduce second harmonic distortion. This allows for a different output network design which can provide for a wider frequency of operation because it does not require as much attenuation of the second harmonic.
In class C and E devices, the output power is typically control by using a variable DC power supply. This limits the speed at which the output power can be varied to that of the DC power supply. The phase shift control limits the speed at which power can be varied only to the speed at which phase can be varied and the Q of the output network. Phase can be varied at rates of 10 degrees per cycle or more and thus can result in very high speed power control or pulsing.
Another characteristic of the phase shift is improved performance at low power. Conventional designs using class C or E have great difficulty when the power supply voltage is reduced to low levels. This is due to the large capacitances, at low drain voltages, in the MOSFET, allowing gate drive signals to be fed to the output through the Crss capacitance (gate to drain capacitance) and detuning of the output network with the very large increase in the average output capacitance Coss. There are other advantages associated with the present RF generator, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
First, second, third, and fourth gate drivers 512, 514, 516, and 518 are coupled to the control terminals of the first, second, third, and fourth MOSFETs, respectively. The MOSFETs are configured to handle at least 500 volts and at least 11 amperes in the present implementation. An AC power source 520 is coupled to a positive rail 522 and a negative rail 524 via a rectifier 521, defining a given potential difference V. The rectifier is provided between the AC power source and nodes 526 and 528 to provide DC currents to the node 526. The DC currents are supplied to the first and second MOSFETs via the positive rail 522. A first capacitor C1 is provided between the positive and negative rails. In the present embodiment, a fixed DC voltage is provided to the first and second MOSFETs.
A resonant circuit 530 is provided between the output nodes of the first and second MOSFETs, so that the RF generator can operate at resonate frequency and avoid hard switching. The circuit 530 includes second and third capacitors C2 and C3, and first, second, and third inductors L1, L2, and L3.
In the present implementation, the second and third capacitors have capacitance of 5.1 nf each. The first and second inductors L1 and L2 have inductance of 400 nH each. The third inductor L3 has inductance of 40 nH. In other implementations, these components may have different values.
The values of the inductors L1 and L2 have been selected to facilitate the commutation of the MOSFETs, such that hard switching is avoided for much of the phase shift range. Hard switching is not completely avoided in the present embodiment because the currents in the inductors are not identical as phase shift is varied. One of the half bridges would have a reduced current as the phase is changed from zero of 180 degrees. The reduction in current results in only a partial resonant commutation with the remainder being hard switching.
An impedance matching circuit 532 is provided between the resonate circuit 530 and a load 534 that is represented as a resistor R5. The matching circuit includes a fourth inductor L4 and fifth and sixth capacitors C5 and C6.
In the present implementation, the fourth inductor has inductance of 270 nH. The fifth and sixth capacitors C5 and C6 have capacitance of 180 pf and 1.1 nf, respectively. These components may have different values in different implementations.
The RF generator 502 also includes a plurality of blocking capacitors C2, C3, and C4 to isolate the load 534 from the power section and operate the RF generator directly off line. The blocking capacitor or fourth capacitor C4 has capacitance of 5.1 nf in the present implementation but may have other values in other implementations.
To operate directly offline, at least two blocking capacitors are used. That is, at least one blocking capacitor 542 is provided between the positive rail 522 and the load 534, as shown in
In operation, the phase of the two half bridges of the RF generator 502 is varied to control the power output. The output of the two half bridges are combined using a network to sum the outputs into a single node 537. The single node is then impedance matched to the output using the matching circuit 532.
Although there is no power output when the MOSFETs are operated in 180 degrees out of phase, currents continue to flow through the inductors L1 and L2. These inductors are being charged and discharged. The potential of the node 537, however, does not change and remains at the same level. This is so since the inductors L1 and L2 are a voltage divider, each with the same inductance. The node 537 remains at V/2 (i.e., a half of the potential difference between the positive and negative rails 522 an 524) as long as the drive is symmetrical.
The RF generator 800 also includes a plurality of RF modules (or MOSFETs) 804 in a full bridge configuration. The RF modules provide a class E device. The RF modules receive the DC power output by the DC power supply 802. A plurality of RF drivers 806 coupled to the control terminals of the MOSFETs drive the MOSFETs. A control device 808 controls the RF drivers 806. A matching output network 810 receives the RF signals output by the RF modules 804 to enable resonant operation and impedance tuning.
A sensor 812 receives the RF signals that have been tuned and determines the power level. The sensor 812 sends a feedback signal to the control device 808 based on the power level that has been determined. The control device 808 uses the feedback signals to control the RF drivers, so that the power level of the RF signals output by the RF modules can be increased or decreased to maintain a constant power level. A voltage supply 814 supplies power to the components in the RF generator 800. One problem with the variable DC power supply is its complexity and large size. Accordingly, the use of variable, isolated DC power supply significantly increases the size of the RF generator.
The use of a direct-off line RF power section such as a phase controlled full bridge which does not require a variable power supply enables the use of a boost regulator (or buck regulator). Raising the voltage to a constant level using a boost regulator provides means of surviving a brownout without a loss of output from the RF generator. Similarly, a buck regulator can be used to reduce the voltage to a level below that expected during a brownout can be used to ensure continued output from the RF generator.
The voltage regulator 902 sends its output to a plurality of MOSFETs 904 in a full bridge configuration (see
A sensor 912 receives the RF signals that have been tuned and determines the power level. The sensor 912 sends a feedback signal to the controller 908 based on the power level that has been determined. The controller 908 uses the feedback signals to control the RF drivers, so that the level of the RF signals output by the RF modules can be increased or decreased to maintain a constant power level. A voltage supply 914 supplies power to the components in the RF generator 900.
The present invention has been illustrated in terms of specific embodiments to fully disclose and enable the invention. The embodiments disclosed above may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the present invention. The description and drawings provided herein, therefore, should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A radio frequency (RF) generator, comprising:
- a first half bridge including first and second power transistors;
- a second half bridge including first and second power transistors;
- an output node coupling the first and second half bridges and RF signals to a load;
- positive and negative rails coupled to an AC power source via a rectifier;
- a first blocking capacitor provided between the positive rail and the load;
- a second blocking capacitor provided between the negative rail and the load; and
- an offline voltage regulator configured to output a given voltage to the first and second bridges,
- wherein the first and second blocking capacitors are configured to isolate the load from the AC power source, so that the first and second half bridges do not require a variable, isolated DC power supply.
2. The RE generator of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator is a step-up or step-down regulator, where the first and second power transistors are MOSFETs, and the third and fourth power transistors are MOSFETs.
3. The RF generator of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator is provided between the AC power source and the first and second half bridges, where the RF generator is configured to operate at an Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency.
4. The RF generator of claim 3, wherein the RF generator is configured to operate at 13.56 MHz or 27.12 MHz.
5. The RF generator of claim 3, wherein the voltage regulator receives power from the AC power source.
6. The RF generator of claim 1, further comprising:
- a resonant circuit provided between the first and second half bridges.
7. The RF generator of claim 6, wherein resonant circuit includes first, second, and third inductors.
8. The RF generator of claim 1, further comprising:
- a plurality of gate drivers to drive the first and second half bridges;
- a controller to control the gate drivers; and
- a sensor provided between the first and second bridges and the load, the sensor being configured to determined the power level of signals output by the first and second half bridges and send a feedback signal to the controller.
9. The RF generator of claim 1, further comprising:
- a matching network provided between the resonant circuit and the load.
10. The RF generator of claim 1, further comprising:
- a third blocking capacitor provided between the positive rail and the load.
11. The RF generator of claim 10, further comprising:
- a resonant circuit provided between the first and second half bridges, wherein the first and third blocking capacitors are part of the resonant circuit.
12. The RF generator of claim 11, wherein the first blocking capacitor is proximate the first half bridge, and the second blocking capacitor is proximate the second half bridge.
13. The RF generator of claim 12, wherein the first and second blocking capacitors have substantially the same capacitance.
14. The RF generator of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator is a step-up or step-down regulator that outputs a fixed voltage.
15. A radio frequency (RF) generator, comprising:
- a first half bridge including first and second power transistors;
- a second half bridge including first and second power transistors;
- an output node coupling the first and second half bridges and RF signals to a load;
- positive and negative rails coupled to an AC power source via a rectifier;
- a first blocking capacitor provided between the positive rail and the load;
- a second blocking capacitor provided between the negative rail and the load; and
- an offline voltage regulator configured to output a fixed voltage to the first and second half bridges,
- wherein the first and second blocking capacitors are configured to isolate the load from the AC power source, so that the first and second half bridges do not require a variable, isolated DC power supply,
- wherein the voltage regulator is configured to raise or lower voltage output to the first and second half bridges during a brownout condition.
16. The RF generator of claim 15, further comprising:
- a plurality of gate drivers to drive the first and second half bridges;
- a controller to control the gate drivers; and
- a sensor provided between the first and second bridges and the load, the sensor being configured to determined the power level of signals output by the first and second half bridges and send a feedback signal to the controller.
17. The RF generator of claim 15, wherein the voltage regulator receives AC currents from the AC power source.
18. The RF generator of claim 15, further comprising:
- a third blocking capacitor provided between the positive rail and the load.
4884168 | November 28, 1989 | August et al. |
5088005 | February 11, 1992 | Ciaccio et al. |
5287919 | February 22, 1994 | George et al. |
5424614 | June 13, 1995 | Maheshwari |
5559467 | September 24, 1996 | Smedley |
5903583 | May 11, 1999 | Ullman et al. |
6034489 | March 7, 2000 | Weng |
6064584 | May 16, 2000 | Cornec et al. |
6072362 | June 6, 2000 | Lincoln et al. |
6133788 | October 17, 2000 | Dent et al. |
6137233 | October 24, 2000 | Moisin |
6246599 | June 12, 2001 | Jang et al. |
6380694 | April 30, 2002 | Uchihashi et al. |
6469919 | October 22, 2002 | Bennett |
7102431 | September 5, 2006 | Bier |
20010004312 | June 21, 2001 | Miyajima et al. |
20020097085 | July 25, 2002 | Stapleton |
20040145584 | July 29, 2004 | Lee et al. |
20040228153 | November 18, 2004 | Cao et al. |
19514544 | October 1996 | DE |
508717 | October 1992 | EP |
09-102568 | May 1997 | JP |
WO98/37627 | August 1998 | WO |
WO 01/95688 | December 2001 | WO |
- Coleman, C., U.S. Appl. No. 11/140,609 for “RF Generator with Commutation Inductor,” filed Mar. 26, 2005.
- Coleman, C., U.S. Appl. No. 11/140,404, for “RF Generator with Reduced Size and Weight,” filed May 27, 2005.
- Coleman, C., U.S. Appl. No. 11/139,273 for “RF Generator with Phase Controlled Mosfets,” May 27, 2005.
Type: Grant
Filed: May 26, 2005
Date of Patent: Dec 11, 2007
Patent Publication Number: 20050270097
Assignee: IXYS Corporation (Santa Clara, CA)
Inventor: Charles Coleman (Fort Collins, CO)
Primary Examiner: Khanh Van Nguyen
Attorney: Townsend & Townsend & Crew LLP
Application Number: 11/140,493
International Classification: H03F 3/217 (20060101);